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| World Home » Current Affairs » | Mon. Oct 6, 2008 |
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Palestinian's interior minister resigns MIL/Agencies/Associated Press, May 14, 2007. Ibrahim Barzak Gaza Strip : May 14, 2007 - The Palestinian interior minister has stepped down on Monday accusing leaders of upsetting his plans to halt a new wave of violence that is threatening the survival of the new coalition government. The departure of Interior Minister Hani Kawasmeh was a major setback for the government, which was formed in March by rival Fatah and Hamas parties to end months of factional violence. Six Palestinians were killed and 52 wounded in street battles since Sunday, in the deadliest violence since the power-sharing deal. Hundreds of masked men patrolled the tense streets of Gaza City, taking up positions around government buildings and other sensitive locations. One gunbattle erupted near the headquarters of the pro-Fatah National Security force, as per Associated Press. The sides selected Kawasmeh — a career civil servant with backing from Hamas — as a compromise candidate for running the Interior Ministry, the top security post. His resignation highlighted the deep rifts over who controls the security forces. Hamas and Fatah had put off dealing with the explosive issue, and Kawasmeh's resignation and the renewed fighting made a compromise even more elusive. Kawasmeh threatened to resign two weeks ago to protest the violence and lawlessness plaguing Gaza. After earlier rejecting the resignation, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas accepted it on Monday, officials said. The minister said he learned of Haniyeh's decision on television. At a news conference, Kawasmeh angrily accused both Haniyeh and the moderate Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, of failing to support him. Kawasmeh recently proposed a security plan to restore law and order. But the plan — which called for reforms and coordination among the numerous Palestinian security forces — never got off the ground. "From the beginning, I faced obstacles that robbed the ministry of its powers and made my position empty without authority," he said. "I told all the concerned parties, including the president and the prime minister, that I must have full authority to be able to carry out my full duties." Officials said Haniyeh would take control of the Interior Ministry until a replacement for Kawasmeh is found. The Cabinet was discussing the matter on Monday. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4801277.html
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